Monday, May 30, 2011

Amie took these pictures of Grayson while she was visiting and I love them because very soon Grayson won't be able to fit in the sink to take a QUICK bath. He will grow up and taking a bath in the sink will be apart of the past.

It is important to me that I save these moments. I am sure that Grayson will hate these pictures when he is older. But for now both Chad and I treasure them. He is growing up before I eyes and changing everyday!

As always thanks Amie!

Have a great Memorial Day with friends and family! Thank you to all who are serving or have served for our country. You are all a blessing!

Friday, May 27, 2011

I will always treasure these images. I have it as a screen image on my iPhone and every time I see it my heart just melts and I get a BIG smile on my face!

This past year that I have been a mommy I have LOVED every moment!

With all my heart I pray and wish that every couple praying, hoping, and dreaming of becoming parents that you will be blessed with a sweet baby soon. I know the pain and struggle each of you face each day and I want to give you hope that dreams and prayers do come true. I have seen miracles happen so much this past year and it brings joy to my heart. All couples out there you are in my prayers and always will.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

A few hours before the party Chad, Grayson, Amie, and I headed out to take pictures and capture his 12 month photos. He was tired and really not up for taking pictures, but if you give a baby a BIG Lollipop things change quickly! {I did not let him eat the Lollipop in case you were wondering...just a few licks)

Thanks Amie again for capturing the below images!

Family Photo - just in case you do ask and you probably will I got my dress at Riffraff. You can find some great clothes, jewelry, household items, etc at this store. Check out there facebook page for more details and pictures.

Next up cake eating time with a 1 year old...

Enjoy the pictures they tell the entire story!

I just love seeing Grayson enjoy the day as much as we did!

This is one of my favorite photos of the day!

SheShe Made designed and made Grayson's 1st birthday shirt! I just gave them a few ideas and they did an AMAZING job!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

It was truly one of the BEST days! The weather was PERFECT! All the details for the party turned out just as I visioned them. I spent several months planning and preparing for this day. I didn't want to feel rushed at the last minute putting a party together for my sweet Grayson. Plus with a job, being a wife and a mommy it because very difficult to get extra things completed.

Anyways back to the party and the details...

First a special THANK YOU to my sister Amie for taking ALL of the AMAZING photos at GRAYSON'S SOCK MONKEY BASH! I love that Amie did this for us and I did not have to worry about taking pictures. Amie you are very talented and you have captured memories that I will have forever! I don't know what I would do without you. You are the BEST sister a girl can ask for!

I would also like to THANK my hubby for helping me with small projects around the house and for creating a few projects that were apart of Grayson's birthday. Chad I know you are a BUSY guy and I appreciate you taking the time to be along side of me and making this day special.

Thanks to my sister Jessyca and Mom for cleaning, cooking, and helping with all the decorations. The party was SPECIAL and BEAUTIFUL because of the both of you.

As you can see the party was put together by many... I could have not completed all of the details without my family.

THANKS!

﻿I know many of you will ask me a few details about the decorations so after each picture you see I will give you as much detail as I can, but if you have any questions please email me. I am happy to help!

I had the vision of having a SOCK MONKEY BASH early after I started taking Grayson's monthly pictures with his BIG sock monkey! Than when we had a Sock Monkey Tree for Grayson at Christmas I knew for sure that I had to do a SOCK MONKEY PARTY. The pictures are great and they capture the party perfectly.

The little signs around the candy jars were made special by Heather at Chickabug. Heather was AMAZING to work with. I sent her a picture of my thoughts and she captured exactly what I wanted. She did things quickly and even at the last minute created things for me. She has been a professional graphic designer/art director for 10 years. You have to go check out her Etsy Site. The great thing is that most of the things she did for me were DIY projects. It saved me money! Thank you again HEATHER at Chickabug for your AMAZING talent and attention to detail. I will be working with you in the future.

Heather created the following things for Grayson's Sock Monkey Bash:

Return Address Labels

Invitation - click here to view

Buffet/Candy Cards

Signs - Scoop Up some Treats and Thank You For Swinging By

Banner - Grayson is One

Cupcake Wrapper and Toppers

The sock monkeys throughout the candy table are from Grayson's Sock Monkey Christmas Tree and I purchased them at several local boutiques and also EBay. The yarn balls hanging from the light came from a local boutique called Perfect Choice. They also were on Grayson's Sock Monkey Christmas Tree. The green mesh was purchased at Sign Sealed and Delivered and I created two runners and tied it together with a bow. The boxes in front of the Scoop Up Some Treats came from Hobby Lobby. The multi-colored garland came from Perfect Choice and it was also on G's tree. I was glad I was able to use so many of the Christmas Decorations for this party.

The window covering was scrapbook paper and ribbon. I personally did not think this project was easy. I recommend making it ahead of time as we waited until the day before the party and it did not go as planned. I actually didn't want to finish it because it was not coming together, but my mom and my BIL Brian worked on it and managed to get it completed and it looked GREAT! I also recommend that you use a hot glue gun. We first used double sided sticky tape and that did not work at all. A BIG thank you to my mom and Brian for your determination to get this project complete. I really think it brought so much to the party.

The little ladders with the sock monkey climbing it came from Sign Sealed and Delivered. These were also on G's Christmas Tree.

The cupcake stand was made by my sister Jessyca and Mom. They arrived a few days before the party and they helped me completed some of the final details of the party. I purchased the cake layers at hobby lobby in the baking section. I found this idea on a blog and you can go here to get all the details on how to create it yourself if you are interested.

The 12 month photo stand was created by Chad, but I got the idea from Bless Our Nest Blog. She always has wonderful ideas and I really enjoy reading her blog. I loved how this turned out and I still have it up in our house right now.

The birthday hat was created by 10 Candles Party Shoppe on Etsy. It was adorable, but Grayson won't keep it on his head. Look at all the sock monkeys Grayson got as gifts from his family and friends. ﻿

The cake above was made at Main Sweets Bakery in Noel, MO. I love how it turned out and she has the BEST strawberry cake.

The adorable Sock Monkey Cookies that you see in the above that Aidan is holding in his hands were made by Robin at All About Cookies. They are adorable and SO GOOD! Thanks Robin for adding a special detail to Grayson's party. Each guest got to go home with a cookie. They were a BIG HIT!

Birthday Boy Playing outside with his cousins after all the party guest left. His Auntie JJ made the Happy Birthday sign and sock monkey that greeted each guest. It was PERFECT and a surprise added touch to the party. Thanks JJ for your artistic abilities. We LOVE YOU! The monkey see monkey do sign was given to Grayson as a gift from our friend Kim. She got it at a craft fair in the local area. It is adorable and now has a special place in Grayson's playroom.

The day was PERFECT. Amie captured so many beautiful pictures and memories for us. We are FOREVER grateful for her talent and time she has given to us. All the below pictures were taken the day of the party and I just LOVE all of the 12 month pictures of Grayson and US! Amie is a wonderful photographer and I hope and wish some day that she will live close to me... hint hint!

It was again a PERFECT day! I hope all of Grayson's birthday guests had a WONDERFUL TIME! Thanks to ALL that made this day special for our family!

You also love milk! I started giving it to you a few weeks ago and it has made a HUGE difference. You drink it with no issues and you SLEEP through the NIGHT! Which is a HUGE blessing! I really think that you HATED formula. We had so many issues the almost two months you were on it.

Daddy and I have been really trying to get you to fall asleep on your own and most nights you do great and fall asleep all on your own. We are so PROUD of you. You usually sit up in your crib or lay down and just talk yourself to sleep. It is so cute! It usually takes any where from 15-30 minutes and you are sleeping! I really thought that we would be rocking you to sleep until you were a young child... just joking!

You say several words, Dada, Mama, Bella, and Ball. I think you are also identifying who Dada is because the evening before your 1st birthday you walked around the house looking for "Dada" Daddy wasn't home and I think you were missing him!

Now onto the normal monthly highlights we do each month:

~ I am not sure how much you weigh or your height, but I am sure you have grown! You still seem like a little guy compared to all the other babies in your class. We have your well baby visit next week.

~ You are wearing size 3 diapers

~ You are wearing size 6-12 month clothes, but I purchased mostly 12 month summer clothes so you have been wearing them and they are big, but you will grow into them.

~ You wear size 6-12 month PJ's, but the last two nights I have put you in 12 month PJ's from Children's Place and they fit good they are just a bit long on you. We love the Children's Place PJ's because they have the stick feet so when you are walking around you don't fall as much.

~ You LOVE the cheese puffs, cereal bars, teething biscuits, and yogurt! If I give you any of those 4 items you eat it up quick!

~ You NOW have 6 teeth, 4 on the top and 2 on the bottom.

~ You do NOT like baby food anymore! At daycare you are exclusively eating table food and you are doing GREAT! At home it is a different story. It is difficult to get you to eat table food. I keep trying different food items, but you are happy just eating cheese puffs, yogurt, or cereal bars when you are home.

~ You love throwing balls and crawling or walking to go and get them. You will do this all over the house.

~ You are now waving and you clap all the time

~ You also love to DANCE, the moment you hear music you are moving your legs. It is so cute!

~ You have really loved looking at books lately and you will sit and look at the pages while I read you the story.

~ You love baths and would stay in the bath for hours playing with your bath toys.

~ You have grown so much over the past month and you amaze us every day! We are blessed to be your parents and watch you grow. It has been an amazing 12 months and we love you SO MUCH!

I took more pictures of Grayson this month but my camera will not download them. I am frustrated...

Side note for all Picky Sticky parents I was online earlier this week purchasing stickers for some friends that are expecting their first baby this summer and guess what they now are selling months 13-24 for both girls and boys! I purchased mine and I got them in the mail today and they are adorable!

I just thought I would share this news with all of you that have enjoyed doing these monthly posts for your children.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

I can't believe that we are celebrating his 1st birthday, the past year has gone by SO FAST!

Mommy's Letter to Grayson

One Year ago today at 9:50PM you came into this world weighing 6 pounds 10 ounces. You melted my heart and made all my dreams come true. It truly has been an amazing and wonderful year! You have filled our home with many laughs, loves, hugs, tears, and many smiles.

I remember the day we brought you home and you were a great baby. You woke up every 2 hours to eat during the first few weeks and than I got you on a every three hour schedule. Our biggest challenge was getting you to sleep through the night. We had a few nights throughout the year that you slept through the night, but not too many! I loved every moment I have spent with you even the moments when I was SO tired and all I wanted to do is sleep. But I would do it ALL over again in a second. You have the biggest blue eyes and every time we are out of the house we get complements on your eyes or they tell us you are a Gerber Baby.

Some of the moments I remember this past year is our first night together in the hospital. I didn't want you to go to the nursery at all. I wanted you by my side at all times. When we brought you home from the hospital I was planning on putting you in your crib at night to sleep, but when night time approached I just could not do it... I cried my eyes out until your daddy let you sleep with us. The next day he went out and purchased a pack and play and the nap nanny for our room. You slept in our room until you were 3 months old. You now LOVE your crib it is the ONLY place you will sleep. Sometimes I secretly wish you would snuggle next to me in my bed and sleep all night with me. But I am grateful that you like your crib.

I remember the 1st day we took you to Daycare. It was a sad day and I did not want to put you in daycare. I waited until noon when your daddy took us both to the daycare to drop you off. I was brave when I was there dropping you off, but the moment we left I was in tears. It took awhile for you to adjust, but you are starting to enjoy going to daycare. Now only if you would take a nap at daycare. Every day we go to daycare I cannot wait until I get to go back and get you. I love seeing your smile the moment I walk in the door. You are now waving at me and walking to me the moment I come into your classroom.

I remember the first time you cried for hours and I had no idea what was wrong with you. You finally fell asleep and later we found out the reason behind all the tears was you had an ear infection. Yikes! This past year you ended up having four ear infections and in February you ended up getting tubes put in your ears. It has helped you so much! You have been relatively healthy since having tubes.

Teething has not been fun. It has been painful for you, but we did figure out that if we freeze your paci it helps so much! Less tears! I remember the many nights of teething where both daddy and I would be awake with you playing or walking the house to make you happy. On your 1st birthday you have 6 teeth and we have many more to come.

I remember the first time you rolled over. It was great to see you reach this milestone finally and be able to see the world around you in a different light.

I remember the first time you crawled it was in our living room and it was so exciting to see you learn and explore the space around you. It was a new sense of FREEDOM for you.

I remember your first steps, which were on May 6th, 2011. It was so shocking to both Mommy and Daddy. I think you were shocked too. You immediately sat down. I of course clapped and got excited so you stood back up and did it again. And today on your birthday you WALK everywhere! You love being on your two feet and with your cautious steps you take you are walking all over the place. Pretty soon you will be running all over this house.

I am so ready to continue to watch you grow and learn new things. You amaze me everyday and I am so proud to be your Mommy. I love you to the Moon and Back! You have blessed our home, our family, and our friends in many ways. Today on your birthday we all celebrate YOU!